Connector for ventilating racks or trays



Dec. 4, 1923. 1,476,397

E. A. DOWNEY ET AL CONNECTOR FOR VENTILATING'RACKS OH TRAYS Filed Ap ril 28, 1923 tion proceeds.

Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

UNITED STATES,

"PAT

.orrics. v

, nnwnnn A. DOWNEY, or mix. m l, AND DAVID mnwan, or ALnxAu-nnul, vrnem'm.

connncron FOR vnu'rma'rme Erickson rears.

Application filed April as, 1923. Seriall'tbi685310.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EnwAnnA. Downer and DAVID MCEWAN, citizens of the United States, residing respectively at Del Bay, in the county of Arlington and State of Vir ginia, and Alexandria, State of Virginia, have invented a new and usefulConnector for Ventilating Racksor Trays, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to an attachment for railway cars and more particularly to a connector for hingedly connecting the several panels of slatted racks used above the floor of a freight car. The device being used particularly in the shipment of fruits, vegetables and other perishable goods, to permit ventilation at the bottom of the material being shipped.

The object of the invention is to provide a connection which will permit "folding, face to face or back to back, of the members to which it is attached.

Another object of'the invention is the construction of a simple device of few parts and of such construction as to have maxi mum strengthat a minimum cost of manufacture.

Qther objects will appear as the descrip- The preferred embodiment of the invention being shown, it will however be understood that slight changes may be made in the device within the scope of what-"is claimed, without departin from the spirit of the invention or sacr' cing any of the advantages thereof.

in the drawin Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of i one section of a'ventilating rack..

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the rack, the section being taken on line 2-2 of Fi re 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to igure 2, the hinged sections of the anel bein shown in full lines, back to bee and in otted lines folded face to face; and

Figure 4; is a detail perspective view of the connector.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing there is illustrated a section of panels, there being four sections like the one shown at tached to each car. Each section comprises intermediate panels 1 and 2, which are hingedly connected to the side of the car as shown at 3, permitting the said panels to be moved to a vertical position along the side of the car.

End panels and 5 are bin (1 to the panels 1 and '2 respectively. lch panel consists of longitudinal members 6 and cross slats 7, the members 6 of one panel being staggered with relation to the members 6 of the next panel. I I

It is necessary at times to fold the end panels on the intermediate. panels in face to face position. At other times it is desirable to fold the panels back to back. To permit folding in either position connectors 8 are provided. Each connector comprises oppositely disposed attaching shanks 9i and 10, prov1ded with bolt openings 11. Counter-sunk headed'bolts 12 are used to secure the hinge members to the end slats 7 of adjacent panels. An eye 13 is formed on the upturned end 14 of the shank 9. The eye13 carries one end of a link 15, the other end of which is slidable in a loop 16, depending from the shank 10 and below the eye 13.

. It will be observed from an inspection of Figure 2 of the drawing that the entire connector is located between the upper and lower surfaces of the anels, so that no part of without the use of bolts, nuts or rivets, thus providing a producing a strong connection, which may be easily andv cheaply manufactured.

Having thus descri is claimed is on ed the invention, what 1. A device of the class described comprising a pair of panels adapted to be ,dJ'S- posed in horizontal alinement, rigid hinge elements secured to the panels, a rigid con-. necting member, and means for plvotally uniting the connecting member with each of the hinge elements, one of the last specified means being so constructed as to permit the anels to be folded together back to back or.

ace to face, all portlons of the hinge elements and the connecting member 7 bein housed between the panels and being locatedentirely below the upper surface of the anels when the panels are in alinement and one end of which is pivoted in the eye, the in the same horizontal plane. othei' end of which is pivotedin the loop and W 2. A' hinge comprising members, one of is slidahle therein longitudinal of the loop. which is provided at its inner end with an In testimon that we claim the foregoing eye, the other of which is provided at its as our own, we have hereto affixed our siginner end with an elongated loop, the loop natures.

and the eye projecting in opposite dilec- EDWARD A. DOWNEY.

, tions when the hinge is open and a link DAVID MoEWAN. 

